Web free end control for wrapping machines



y 1966 J. D. ANDREWS ETAL 3,24

WEB FREE END CONTROL FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS John D. Andrews Paul J- LcBonle Clarence 0. Karl AT TORN EY y 1966 J. D. ANDREWS ETAL 3,248,850

WEB FREE END CONTROL FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 1, 1962 INVENTORS John D. Andrews Paul J. LaBon'le Clarence O.Kar|

AT TORN EY J. D. ANDREWS ETAL WEB FREE END CONTROL FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 3, 1966 Filed NOV. 1, 1962 INVENTORS John D. Andrews Paul J. LoBoni'e Clarence Q. Karl ATTORNEY y 1966 J. D. ANDREWS ETAL 3,

WEB FREE END CONTROL FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1962 4' Sheets-Sheet 4.

AlR SUPPLY 4- 4 INVENTORS John D. Andrews Paul J. LqBonfe Clarence 0. Karl BY %MM AT TORN EY United States Patent 3,248,850 WEB FREE END CONTROL FOR WRAPHNG MACHINES John D. Andrews, Bayside, Paul J. La Bonte, Menomonee Falls, and Clarence 0. Karl, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Milprint, Inc, Miiwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 234,676 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-228) This invention relates to packaging machinery, particularly packaging machines of the type in which material used to wrap articles has a free end during part of the wrapping operation. Specifically, this invention relates to means and methods for preventing the free end of wrapping material used in a wrapping machine of the above type from becoming entangled in the machine as the wrapping operation is performed.

A great deal of the packaging and wrapping done today is performed by wrapping machinery wherein unwrapped articles are received by a machine and wrapped in a web of wrapping material in such a manner that movement of the article through the machine causes a portion of the web of wrapping material to be withdrawn from a supply thereof and wrapped about the article. At the start of the wrapping operation, the wrapping material generally has a free end which hangs down alongside the article to be packaged and after a portion of the wrapping material sufiicient to wrap one article has been withdrawn from the supply of wrapping material, the material is severed so as to once again have a free end which moves into the ready position for wrapping the next article to be packaged. Generally the wrapping material is supplied as a web wound into roll-form and discrete portions of the web suflicient to enclose an article are withdrawn from the supply roll and cut from the web during the wrapping operation.

In packaging machines of the foregoing type, i.e., where the wrapping material has a free end during portions of the wrapping operation, it is possible that the free end of the wrapping material can become entangled in the machine and prevent the machines usual wrapping operation from being carried out. When the free end of the wrapping material becomes thusly entangled, this usually requires that the machine be shut down and the web freed and returned to its normal condition. It has been found that the seriousness of this problem depends to a large extent on the type of material which is used in the machine. Thus many packaging materials have properties such that they build up a charge of static electricity as they are manipulated in a wrapping machine of this type. The formation of a charge of static electricity on the supply of wrapping material may often cause the material to be attracted to metal portions of the machine and thus the use of wrapping materials which have a propensity to build up a charge of static electricity during mechanical manipulation thereof presents a very serious problem in this type of packaging machine. Many of the organic plastic films, such as polyethylene, are of the type which tend to build up charges of static electricity and thus the problem of such materials becoming entangled in a packaging machine wherein they are used in web-form which has a free end has been found to be especially serious and the processing of such films in this type of machine can be very difiicult.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this inven tion is to provide means and methods by which the free end of a supply of wrapping material in a wrapping machine can be prevented from becoming entangled in machine elements. Another object of this invention is to provide means and methods which utilize controlled currents of air to maintain the free end of a supply of wrapping material in a Wrapping machine in such a condition as to prevent the free end from becoming entangled in the machine. Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and methods which will enhance the efiicacy of utilizing wrapping materials which have a propensity towards building up static electricity charges in wrapping machines, particularly with reference to enhancing the use of organic plastic wrapping materials in wrapping machines wherein the materials are utilized in such a manner that they have a free end which can become undesirably entangled in machine elements. These and other more specific objects will appear from the description which follows:

By way of summary, this invention provides for utilizing a supply of compressed air near the free end of a web of wrapping material in a machine of the above type so as to create a pressure differential across the two sides of the web that will urge the free end towards a position in which it will be clear of machine elements.

} Additionally, this invention also provides for utilizing a second supply of compressed air which is positioned so as to deflect a severed end of the web of wrapping material towards the aforesaid position to further aid in preventing entanglement of the web in the machine.

For a more detailed description of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown, by way of illustration, apparatus suitable for the practice of this invention; in the drawings, like reference characters des ignate the same or similar parts in the various views. The apparatus will be described in sufiicient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this invention but it is to be understood that other forms of apparatus may be used, that the invention may be utilized on Wrapping machines other than the type illustrated herein, and that structural changes in the apparatus described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims and limitations set out in the following detailed description are not to be taken in a limiting sense except insofar as they are incorporated in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of one form of wrapping machine on which the present invention may be utilized;

FIGS. 2 through 8 are side views, partly in section, which schematically illustrate the manner in which the wrapping machine shown in FIG. 1 performs the wrapping operation;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating apparatus according to this invention installed on the wrapping machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective, with parts broken away, of the article receiving table of the machine of FIG. 1 illustrating Web free end positioning means installed on said table according to this invention;

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective, with parts broken away, of web free end deflection means according tothis invention as installed on the lifter of the wrapping machine as indicated in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the action of the web free end deflection means of this invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of one type of wrapping machine on which the present invention may be utilized. FIG. 1 is diagrammatic and although the major functional mechanisms which are necessary to furnish a clear and complete description of this invention are illustrated, the various actuating mechanisms such as cams, shafts, etc.,

and some functional mechanisms not necessary to a proper description of this invention are not shown therein. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a frame 1 supports and carries most of the functional mechanisms and their associated drives. Articles to be wrapped by the machine, herein shown as loaves of bread 2 and 3, are transported onto an article receiving table 4 by a transverse conveyor mechanism not shown in the drawings; the conveyor is of the type that intermittently feeds individual unwrapped articles to the machine. The article 2 positioned on the article receiving table 4 engages a stop member 5 to be held in position for proper transport through the machine. A web 6 of wrapping material, carried on a supply roll 7 supported on a rotatable shaft 8, is led around rollers 9, 10 and 11. From these rollers, the web 6 passes over a plate 30 and thence over roller 12, after which it is draped over the article receiving table 4 with its free end A hanging below the forward edge of the table. (For convenience, the end of the machine carrying the supply roll of wrapping material will be referred to as the rear of the machine in this description and the surface of the article facing the supply roll of wrapping material will correspondingly be referred to as the rear of the article.) At the front end of the machine, a lifter 13 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 14 and is suitably actuated so as to reciprocate between a down position B shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and a raised position C shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. When in its lowered position B the top surface of the lifter is co-planar with the top surface of the article receiving table so that articles may be moved from the article receiving table onto the lifter, for which purpose there is provided a reciprocating pusher 15 which is adapted to contact the rear of the article and push it from the article receiving table onto the lifter. The lifter 13 also carries a ledgerplate 18 across its bottom at its rearmost end nearest the article receiving table 4. When in its raised position C, the top surface of the lifter is in the same plane as the top surface of a runway 16 so that articles may be transferred from the lifter onto the runway; this transfer is accomplished by pushers 17 mounted on endless chains 27 draped about sprockets 31 supported over the top of the machine. As indicated in the drawing, there are two such pushers 17, provided for each article, and there may be several pairs of pushers 17 disposed about the endless chains on which they are supported. The pushers 17 operate to move the wrapped articles from the lifter onto the runway and thence off the runway for ultimate discharge from the machine.

The functioning of the wrapping machine shown in FIG. 1 is to receive an unwrapped article such as a loaf of bread 2 and wrap the same with the web of wrapping material to produce a completely enclosed package such as that designated as 19 which comprises a loaf of bread wrapped in a portion of the web 6 of the wrapping material. The manner in which this is accomplished will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 8 which illustrate portions of some of the mechanisms used during the wrapping operation.

FIG. 2 shows the condition illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the article 2 is in position on the article receiving table 4 and pusher 15 engages the rear of the article. The web 6 of wrapping material is draped over roller 12 and its free end A dangles below the article receiving table 4. The lifter 13 is in its lowered position and a spring-biased presser 20 that moves in unison with the lifter is in its rearmost position above the top of the lifter. The article 2 is pushed off the article receiving table 4 and onto the lifter 13 by the pusher 15 being caused to move in the direction of the arrow 21 by its actuating mechanism. FIG. 3 illustrates an intermediate position of the article during this transfer and FIG. 4 shows the article after it has been entirely transferred onto the lifter. During this operation, the pusher forces the article against the spring biased presser 20 which moves forwardly in the direction of arrow 22 (FIG. 3) so that the web 6 is held tightly against the article. This pressing action prevents the web from slipping or twisting about the article and additionally enables a portion of the web to be drawn from its supply roll as the article moves onto the lifter. At the completion of this transfer the web of wrapping material is folded about the front top and bottom edges 23 and 24 respectively of the article (FIG. 4) and the free end A of the web is held underneath the article intermediate its front and rear bottom edges.

After the article with the engaged web is on the lifter 13, the lifter is moved by its actuating mechanism to its raised position wherein it is opposite the runway 16. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5 and, as shown, this upward movement of the lifter causes the web to be folded over the top rear edge 25 of the article. During this movement an additional portion of the web 6 is drawn off from the supply roll so that an amount of web is withdrawn that will be sufficient to completely wrap the article. Also during this movement, the web is drawn across a web pull-off roller 26 (not shown in FIG. 1) which extends entirely across the Width of the web. The web pull-off roller 26 is carried between a pair of arms, not shown, which are actuated by a suitable mechanism so that it can be moved between an upper position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 5 and a lowered position 26a shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5. The purpose of the roller 26 is to draw off a length of web for the initial stages of wrapping a succeeding article, which is accomplished when it is actuated to move to its down position.

After the lifter 13 reaches the position of FIG. 5, pushers 17 carried by the endless chains 27 engage the front of the article as shown in FIG. 6 to move the article from the lifter onto the runway 16. During this movement the web becomes folded about the bottom rear edge 28 of the article. Also during this movement, the web becomes pinched between the bottom of the article and the runway after which the web pull-off roller 26 is actuated to its lowered position 26a to draw off a portion of the web 6. After a portion of the web has been drawn ofi by the roller 26, a web brake shoe 32 is actuated so as to clamp the web against the plate 30 (FIG. 6) and prevent it from moving while a reciprocating knife 33 is actuated so as to transversely sever the web along the upper surface of the ledgerplate 18 as at C in FIG. 7. After severance, the brake shoe 32 is released as indicated in FIG. 9 so that the web 6 may move freely across the plate 30 during the above-described folding and transfer operations. After the web is cut, the end E of the portion of the web that is used to wrap the article 2 is overlapped, upon further movement of the article onto the runway, with the original free end A of the Web underneath the article to form the bottom seam of the package. The other end P of the web after the foregoing cutting operation is a free end and drops downwardly as shown by the dashed line portion 29 in FIG. 7 so as to drape over the roller 12 as shown in FIG. 8 to be in position ready for packaging the succeeding article 3, which has been moved onto the article receiving table during the foregoing sequence of events. Then when the lifter 13 returns t?) the dotted position shown in FIG. 8 (which is its down position B) the above sequence of events is repeated to wrap the succeeding article.

The foregoing has described the manner in which the side 'folds are formed about an article by the machine shown in FIG. 1 but has omitted the formation of the end folds required to complete the wrapping. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the completely Wrapped article 19 has a set of four end-folds a, b, c and d formed at each end as the article moves through the machine. As the web is folded about the article during transfer of the article from the article receiving table to the lifter and then onto the runway, the web assumes a tube-like configuration and has a portion projecting beyond each end of the article. In order to fold these projecting ends of the web snugly against the ends of the article to form end-folds a, b, c and d, the machine is generally equipped with several sets of end tucker plates and folders which are not shown in the drawings. The first end-fold, end-fold a, is formed as the article is pushed onto the lifter. Endfold b is generally formed when the lifter moves to its raised position C, and end-folds c and d are usually formed as the article moves across the runway. The construction and actuation of suitable end tucker plates and folders are well-known to those skilled in the art and they have therefore been omitted from the drawings.

Additionally, a wrapping machine such as that shown in FIG. 1 will also include sealing means adapted to seal the Wrapped web and form a securely wrapped article, and these sealing means are also not shown in the drawing. When films of thermoplastic materials or films coated with heat-scalable coatings are used as wrapping material, such sealing means will generally comprise suitable heat-sealing devices arranged to heat-seal the necessary overlapped portions of the wrapping and form the enclosed package. These heat-sealing devices may be incorporated along the runway 16 and be positioned to form the necessary heatseals as the Wrapped package moves across the runway and onto discharge. In many instances, an end label will be placed on each end of the wrapped article to hold the end folds in place.

Readers skilled in the packaging art will recognize the foregoing as a description of the operation of the standard bread wrapping machine produced by the American Machine and Foundry Company, which is a widely used machine in the packaging industry. A complete description of an operative machine of the foregoing type is contained in United States Patent No. 1,626,379 granted to H. Y. Armstrong. Therefore, reference may be made to the Armstrong patent for so much of its disclosure as is necessary to indicate the nature of a completed machine of the type shown in FIG. 1, including the various actuating mechanisms and functional mechanisms which have been omitted from the foregoing drawings. As indicated previously, the above machine is only one of several types of machines to which this invention is adapted and its description is included herein to form a basis for illustration of the present invention and its operation with an actual machine.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the wrapping material has a free end during several parts of the wrapping operation. Specifically, the wrapping material has a free end A shown in FIG. 2 that is positioned in front of the article receiving table 4 at the start of the operation, which shall be referred to as the initial position. After severance of the web to cut off .a portion of the web suflicient to wrap an article 2 as shown in FIG. 7, free end P is formed in the web which then falls to the initial position in front of the article receiving table 4 to be ready for wrapping the succeeding article 3. Thus there is always the danger that the free end when in its initial position can become entangled in parts of the wrapping machine and prevent proper machine operation. Further, there is always the danger that the free end formed upon severance of the web can become entangled in the web pull-off roller 26, or other machine elements, as it descends to the initial position. These problems are particularly acute when the web 6 is of a material which can build up a charge of static electricity and thereby become attractive to metal machine elements. Many organic plastic films have the property of building up a static electric charge when used in a wrapping machine, probably because of their low moisture absorption, and thus the above dangers of becoming entangled in various elements of the wrapping machine are particularly troublesome when Wrapping with this type of film material. Polyolefin films, such as coated and uncoated polyethylene and polypropylene, are especially troublesome in this regard. The present invention seeks to circumvent the problems of the wrapping material becoming en- 6 tangled in the machine elements and FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate one manner in which this may be accomplished in accordance with this invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the use of web free end positioning means adapted to control the free end of the web of wrapping material when in its initial position, in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and shows web free end positioning means 37 attached to the underside of the article receiving table 4 near its forwardmost edge. Referring now to- FIG. 10, the web free end positioning means 37 includes a generally L-shaped plate member 38 that has a top flange portion 39 which is secured by bolts 40 to the underside of the article receiving table to hold the assembly in position. The exact width of the plate 38 will vary with the particular machine used, although preferably it is approximately the same width as the article receiving table 4 and also about as wide as the web 6 of the wrapping material used in the machine. The plate 38 has a front surface 41 that is arranged so as to be approximately vertical when the plate is attached to the article receiving table 4 and which is positioned to one side of the web 6 of the wrapping material, or rearwardly thereof in the particular machine illustrated herein. The front surface 41 of the plate 38 is provided with a series of holes 42. Near the top of the plate 38 there is provided an air manifold 43 which has a series of perforations 44 that are directed away from the web of wrapping material, i.e., towards the rear of the wrapping machine in the drawings herein. The air manifold 43 may be secured to the plate 38 by clamps 45 that are bolted to the front surface 41. One end of the air manifold 43 is closed and the other is attached to an air hose 46 that is connected to an air pressure regulating valve 47 that, in turn, is connected to one end of a T-connector 48. Air from a compressed air supply not shown in the drawings is fed through air hose 49 past a needle valve 56 into another inlet of T-connector 48 so that air can 'be supplied under regulated pressure to air manifold 43. The pressure regulating valve 47 carries a pressure gauge 51 to assist in control of the pressure of the air flowing through the manifold 43.

The functioning of the web free end positioning means 37 is to provide a supply of compressed air near the free end of the web when in its initial position and to direct the air away from the web so that the free end will be urged towards a retaining position in which it will be clear of elements of the wrapping machine. Referring now to FIG. 9, when compressed air flows through the air manifold 43 it escapes through the perforations 44 therein and is directed away from the web 6, or rearwardly as indicated by the arrow 52. This escape of compressed air in the direction of the arrow 52 causes a slight reduction in the air pressure on the side of the web on which the positioning means is disposed. This results in a slight pressure differential being created across the web (since the side of the web opposite from the means 37 will be at a somewhat higher pressure) which will cause the web to be urged against the perforated front surface 41 of the plate 38, in the direction of arrow 53. Because of this pressure differential, the free end A of the web will be held against the front surface 41 and thereby be prevented from becoming attracted to or entangled in any nearby machine elements. Thus where the web 6 is a plastic film which has a tendency to build up a substantial charge of static electricity during the wrapping operation, it will be prevented from being attracted to metal machine elements when it is retained in position against the plate 38 under action of the air pressure differential created across its two sides. Air should be supplied to the air manifold 43 at a pressure which will be sufiicient to create the pressure differential necessary to hold the Web 6 in its initial position and this required pressure will be influenced by the ambient air pressure in which the machine is operated and the weight of the web 6. For many applications we have found that air at a pressure of from 10 to 40 p.s.i.g. will be sufficient. If the machine is installed in an area relatively free of drafts, the pressure used can be near the lower end of this range. Also, a lighter weight (or gage) film requires less pressure than a heavier weight film.

A second means which may be used in conjunction with the web free end positioning means 37 is also shown in FIG. 9 and comprises a web free end deflecting means 54 mounted on the ledgerplate 18 of the lifter 13. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the web free end deflecting means 54 includes an air manifold 55 that is closed at both of its ends and has an inlet 56 intermediate its ends which is connected to an air hose 57 leading to an outlet of the T-connector 48 (FIG. 9). The air manifold 55 has a series of perforations 58 disposed along its underside and is secured to the ledgerplate 18 by a pair of clamps 59. When the manifold 55 is secured to the ledgerplate 18, it is arranged so that its perforations are directed downwardly when the lifter 13 is in the raised position shown in FIG. 12. When thusly arranged, air supplied to the manifold will exit there-from through the perforations 58 in the direction of the arrow 60. Since the manifold 55 is secured to the lifter and moves in conjunction therewith, there should be enough slack in the air hose 57 to permit free and unhampered movement without breaking the connection between it and the manifold.

The functioning of the web free end deflecting means is to provide a stream of air that will direct the free end F of the web formed after severance toward the initial position and prevent the web end from becoming entangled about the web pull-off roller 26. It has been found that where packaging films which build up a charge of static electricity are used in a wrapping machine of the type illustrated herein, there is a tendency for the severed end F to become attracted to the pull-off roller 26 and wind about it so as to be prevented from falling into its initial position wherein it is draped across the front end of the article receiving table 4. As shown in FIG. 12, after severance, the free end F of the web is to move through the positions shown in dotted lines to the initial position draped across the front end of the article receiving table. This movement of the web end is facililated by means of the air stream exiting from the manifold 55 in the direction of the arrows 60 and it can be seen from this drawing that once the free end passes underneath the manifold, the air stream will be directed downwardly away from the pull-off roller 26 and prevented from becoming entangled about the roller 26 when the roller is in the position illustrated as 26a. It has been found that supplying air under pressure of about 10 to 30 p.s.i.g. to the air manifold 55 will be sufficient in most instances to provide this functioning, although this pressure will also vary with the type of wrapping material used and the ambient air conditions in which the machine is operated.

The method of this invention provides for eliminating two of the difiiculties encountered while running wrapping materials which build up static electricity in a Wrapping machine. According to this method, a supply of compressed air is provided near one end of the web of wrapping material and the air is directed away from the web, preferably approximately perpendicularly as illustrated herein, so as to create a pressure differential across the web which will urge the web towards a retaining position when the free end of the web is in its initial position at the start of the sequence for wrapping an article in a machine. To this may be added the step of directing a second stream of air along one side of the web in an approximately longitudinal direction and in such a manner as to deflect the web towards its initial position after the web has been severed subsequent to completing the wrapping of an article in the machine. These two basic steps may be used singly or together in a particular machine. Apparatus suitable for the practice of these process steps has been described above.

While this invention has been described by showing its use on an AMF bread wrapping machine, it may also be practiced on other wrapping machines wherein the web has a free end during the wrapping operation, particularly at the initial part thereof. Other machines to which this invention may be incorporated include the Scandia 600 and 700 series of overwrap machines, the Versafiow machines and the National BW-4, 5, 6- and 7 types of machines. Consequently, it is not desired to limit this invention to the particular type of wrapping machine which is illustrated herein.

This invention thus provides a solution to the oftenvexatious problem of running wrapping materials which tend to build up static electricity charges in wrapping machines. This problem is particularly acute when using non-cellulosic synthetic organic plastic polymeric films such as, for example, polyolefins, as exemplified by coated and uncoated polyethylene and polypropylene films, and vinyl films such as the Saran-type films, which exhibit very low moisture absorption and therefore tend to build up static electricity charges when run through wrapping machines of the type illustrated. Because of this build up of static electricity, the films tend to become entangled in the machine elements, particularly the free end of the film which is present at the start of the wrapping sequence and the free end which is formed upon severance of the web after wrapping an article. Materials such as cellophane and wax paper, which hold sufficient moisture to enable grounding of a static electricity charge that may be developed during machine operation, generally do not present the problems which are encountered with organic plastic films of the above type. Consequently, this invention will have its most important utility in connection with the use of this latter type of wrapping materials. Where this invention has been utilized on wrapping machines and plastic films such as polyethylene has been used as the wrapping materal, it has been found that the machine can be run at a much higher rate of speed without frequent stoppage by reason of the wrapping material becoming tangled in machine elements. In contrast, where the same materials were run in the same machine without the incorporation of this invention, it was found that the machine had to be run at a much lower rate of speed (i.e., fewer articles wrapped per minute) and that the machine had to be stopped frequently in order to disentangle the wrapping material from machine elements to which it had become attracted because of the build-up of static electricity.

Additionally, this invention has particular utility where very thin films are used, such as those on the order of about 1 to 3 mils thick or less, since static electricity charges pose severe problems with thin, lightweight films. Thus it was found that a coated polypropylene film that was 0.00087 thick could not be continuously run in a wrapping machine of the type described herein without encountering frequent and time-consuming delays caused by the film becoming attracted to machine elements by reason of static electricity charges. However, when apparatus according to this invention was mounted on the machine. It was found that the same film could be used with the machine running at a satisfactory commercial rate of speed without encountering any problems of the film web becoming attracted to and entangled in metallic machine elements.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for wrapping articles in wrapping material supplied in the form of a web, which apparatus includes an article receiving member on which an article to be wrapped is initially placed, and the web has a free end that in its initial position is disposed adjacent the article receiving member and alongside an article to be wrapped, and wherein said free end of the web of wrapping material is folded about the article to be wrapped upon transport of the article through the wrapping apparatus, and wherein the web is severed at a point above said initial position to provide a subsequent free end which falls into said initial position adjacent the article receiving member after a length of web suflicent to wrap the article has been drawn off, the combination with said apparatus of:

web free end positioning means disposed adjacent an edge of said article receiving member and along one side of the free end of the web when in its initial position, said positioning means including (1) a first member alongside the free end of the web and having a portion against which the free end is held in position and (2) means causing a differential air pressure along said free end of the web, the last said means including means for directing a flow of air away from the first member to cause the free end of the web to be held in position against said first member until after an article to be wrapped engages the web and prevent the free end from becoming entangled in elements of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first member includes a perforated portion against which the free end is held in position and wherein said means causing a differential air pressure includes an air manifold adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air said air manifold having perforations that are directed away from the web and through which compressed air can flow to cause said web to be held against said first member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including:

web free end deflecting means arranged alongside the web and adapted to provide a flow of air directed to deflect towards said initial position the free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said web free end deflecting means includes an air manifold adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, said air manifold having perforations arranged to direct the flow of compressed air to deflect said free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed towards said initial position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including:

web free end deflecting means arranged alongside the web and adapted to provide a flow of air directed to 10 deflect towards said initial position the free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed,

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said web free end deflecting means includes an air manifold adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, said air manifold having erforations arranged to direct the flow of air to deflect said free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed towards said initial posi- Hon.

7. In apparatus for wrapping articles in wrapping material supplied in the form of a web, which apparatus includes an article receiving member on which an article to be wrapped is initially placed, and the web has a free end that in its initial position is disposed adjacent the article receiving member and alongside an article to be wrapped, wherein said free end of the web of wrapping material is folded about the article to be wrapped upon transport of the article through the wrapping apparatus, and wherein the web is severed at a point above said initial position to provide a subsequent free end which falls into said initial position adjacent the article receiving member after a length of web suflicient to wrap the article has been drawn off, the combination with said apparatus of:

web free end deflecting means arranged alongside the Web and including means for directing a flow of compressed air against the web to deflect towards said initial position said free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for directing a flow of compressed air includes an air manifold adapted to be connected to a source of cornpressed air, said air manifold having perforations arranged to direct the flow of air to deflect said free end of the web that is formed after the web is severed towards said initial position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,794 8/1926 Nicolait. 1,816,085 7/1931 Langhammer 53-32 2,060,501 11/1936 Hoppe. 2,890,555 6/1959 Hayssen 53 22s 2,982,077 5/1961 Smith 53 3s9 3,084,491 4/1963 Solomon 53389 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, A. E. FOURNIER, Examiners. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ARTICLES IN WRAPPING MATERIAL SUPPLIED IN THE FORM OF A WEB, WHICH APPARATUS INCLUDES AN ARTICLE RECEIVINGF MEMBER ON WHICH AN ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED IS INITIALLY PLACED, AND THE WEB HAS A FREE END THAT IN ITS INITIAL POSITON IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE ARTICLE RECEIVING MEMBER AND ALONGSIDE AN ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED, AND WHEREIN SAID FREE END OF THE WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL IS FOLDED ABOUT THE ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED UPON TRANSPORT OF THE ARTICLE THROUGH THE WRAPPING APPARATUS, AND WHEREIN THE WEB IS SEVERED AT A POINT ABOVE SAID INITIAL POSITION TO PROVIDE A SUBSEQUENT FREE END WHICH FALLS INTO SAID INTITIAL POSITION ADJACENT THE ARTICLE RECEIVING MEMBER AFTER A LENGTH OF WEB SUFFICIENT TO WRAP THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN DRAWN OFF, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID APPARATUS OF: WEB FREE END POSITIONING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT AN EDGE OF SAID ARTICLE RECEIVING MEMBER AND ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE FREE END OF THE WEB WHEN IN ITS INITIAL POSITION, SAID POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING (1) A FIRST MEMBER ALONGSIDE THE FREE END OF THE WEB AND HAVING A PORTION AGAINST WHICH THE FREE END IS HELD IN POSITION AND (2) MEANS CAUSING A DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE ALONG SAID FREE END OF THE WEB, THE LAST SAID MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR DIRECTING A FLOW OF AIR AWAY FROM THE FIRST MEMBER TO CAUSE THE FREE END OF THE WEB TO BE HELD IN POSITION AGAINST SAID FIRST MEMBER UNTIL AFTER AN ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED ENGAGES THE WEB AND PREVENT THE FREE END FROM BECOMING ENTANGLED IN ELEMENTS OF THE APPARATUS. 